Job Description for a Home-Based Travel Agent
Becoming a home-based travel agent is a growing profession where agents manage clients from the comfort of their homes instead of noisy offices. While becoming a travel agent may involve long hours, the benefits of discounted travel and lodging cn be attractive perks.
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Nature of Work
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"In general, travel agents give advice on destinations and make arrangements for transportation, hotel accommodations, car rentals, tours, and recreation," states the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Because clients of travel agents expect the best advice about their destinations, agents must sort through vast amounts of information to ensure accuracy and the best possible options.
Work Environment
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Many travel agents enjoy working in the comfort of their own homes rather than in noisy agency offices, but long hours can still be expected during peak vacation seasons. The OOH claims, "Travel agents spend most of their time behind a desk conferring with clients, completing paperwork, contacting airlines and hotels for travel arrangements, and promoting group tours."
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Education and Training
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There are no federal licensing requirements for travel agents. However, nine States---California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington---require some form of registration or certification of retail sellers of travel services," states the U.S. Department of VA. Generally, the minimum requirement for travel agents is a high school diploma (or equivalent), but most agencies prefer applicants who have received formal training from a college program.
Earnings
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According to OOH, "Experience, sales ability, and the size and location of the agency determine the salary of a travel agent. Median annual wages of travel agents were $30,570 in May 2008." For home-based agents who own their own agencies, earnings are primarily dependent on commissions and service fees they charge.
Outlook
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People with formal travel agent training will have the best opportunities to get hired into an agency. It will depend on the agency as to how quickly one can expect to work from home upon hire. "Little or no change in employment is expected over the 2008-18 period." states the OOH.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of amadeus kanaan
